Create Your Satin Wedding Garter: A Step-By-Step Guide

Wedding garters are a fun tradition, and making your own satin wedding garter is a simple project that can be completed in under an hour. All you need to know is how to sew a straight line! You can make a satin wedding garter with scraps of satin fabric or wide ribbon, sharp scissors, and some decorations, such as rhinestones or a button. First, measure the circumference of your leg where you want to wear the garter. Cut your ribbon to this length, and then cut a piece of elastic that is 3 inches shorter. Sew any decorations onto the ribbon, and then sew the elastic to the ribbon. Finally, sew the ends of the ribbon together, and your garter is ready to wear!

Choosing your materials

The materials you choose for your DIY wedding garter will depend on the look you're going for, but there are a few essentials you'll need. These include:

• Satin fabric or wide ribbon: Satin is a great choice for a wedding garter as it is smooth and luxurious. You can use scraps of satin fabric or a wide satin ribbon.
• Lace: You can choose from a variety of lace styles, such as ruffled or scalloped lace, to add a delicate and romantic touch to your garter.
• Elastic: This is essential for ensuring your garter stays in place. Look for 1/2-inch or 1/4-inch wide elastic that is comfortable and stretchy.
• Thread: Choose a thread that matches your fabric colour to sew the pieces together.
• Embellishments (optional): You can add extra special touches to your garter with embellishments such as rhinestones, buttons, beads, or charms.

When choosing your materials, consider the colour scheme and theme of your wedding. Traditional wedding garters are usually white or blue, but you can choose any hue that suits your style. You can also add a personal touch by incorporating the couple's names, wedding date, or other meaningful details.

If you're feeling creative, you can even use fabric from the wedding dress itself, as mentioned in one source. This can be a unique and meaningful way to create a custom garter that matches the bride's dress perfectly.

Measuring the ribbon and lace

The first step to making a satin wedding garter is to measure the circumference of your leg, or the leg of the person who will be wearing the garter. This is the distance around the area of the leg where the garter will be worn. For example, if the measurement is 14", you would add 7" to get the ideal length of ribbon and lace, which would be 21".

The length of the elastic should be calculated by taking the original circumference measurement and subtracting 3". Using the same example, the length of the elastic would be 11".

The length of ribbon required will depend on the size of the leg, but as a reference, one source suggests a 52" piece of 1" white satin ribbon, which should be cut in half lengthwise. Another source recommends a 25" piece of narrow satin ribbon.

For the lace, one source suggests using two pieces of flat lace with decorative edges: a 26" piece of 2" to 2.5" lace and a 26" piece of 1/4" to 1/2" lace. Another source recommends using a 25" piece of narrow lace.

Sewing the lace to the ribbon

Now that you have your lace and ribbon cut to size, it's time to sew them together!

First, centre the ribbon on top of the lace and pin it in place. You can use a few straight pins to do this, or a single safety pin at the centre, depending on your preference.

Next, sew the lace to the ribbon. Keep your stitching as straight as possible, and try to maintain an even distance from the edge of the ribbon while staying as close to the edge as you can. Repeat this process for the opposite edge of the ribbon, sewing it to the lace.

At this point, your lace and ribbon should be securely attached to each other. If you'd like to add an extra layer of ribbon, as described in one source, now is the time to do so. Simply align the second piece of ribbon directly over the first, and topstitch the two together, sewing as close to the edges as possible.

Now your lace and ribbon are ready to be attached to the elastic.

Adding elastic to the garter

Now that you have your satin fabric, lace, and ribbons cut and sewn, it's time to add the elastic to ensure your garter stays snugly in place.

First, measure the circumference of your leg where you want to wear the garter. For the elastic, take this number and subtract 3 inches. This will be the length of your elastic. Cut your elastic to this length. It's important to note that the elastic should be shorter than the combined length of your ribbon and lace, so you will need to gather it as you go along.

Next, take a large safety pin and attach it to one end of your elastic. Then, thread the safety pin in between the layers of your ribbon and lace. Keep moving the safety pin with the elastic until it is all the way through. Be careful not to lose the other end of the elastic! Once your elastic is all the way through, pin both ends to secure them.

Now, with the right sides of the ribbon facing each other, sew down the side of the lace. This is the last seam of your garter. Trim the strings and the edge for a neat finish. You can also do a zig-zag stitch along the cut ends to secure them.

Turn your garter right side out, and you've added your elastic!

Decorating the garter

You can also add a personal touch by embroidering the couple's initials and wedding date, or adding their names to the garter. This is a great way to make the garter unique and special to the couple.

If you want to add some colour, you can choose a coloured ribbon, less than 1-inch wide, and sew it on top of the outer satin ribbon. You could even use a novelty ribbon, such as one for a sports team, for a fun twist.

Another idea is to use a solid fabric instead of ruffled lace, and embroider or sew on decorations. You could also add an appliqué to the garter for a unique design.

For a simple, elegant finish, you can add a button as an embellishment. Sew it onto the ribbon just like a regular button. You could also add a charm with the initial of the groom-to-be. Simply open a jump ring and clasp it around the lace.

Frequently asked questions